USICH Releases Guidance for Health Systems and Hospitals
Today, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released federal guidance to help health systems and hospitals more effectively, collaboratively, and compassionately care for people experiencing homelessness.
"Homelessness is a public health crisis that health systems and hospitals have both short-and long-term roles in addressing in ways that benefit patients, providers, and systems," said USICH Executive Director Jeff Olivet. "Neither health nor housing and homeless service providers can alone address the complex health and housing needs of people experiencing homelessness. We hope this new guidance helps all of those systems work together to prevent and end homelessness."
This guidance, How Health Systems and Hospitals Can Help Solve Homelessness, is also applicable for people working in health more broadly, including public health departments, providers, and researchers.
For each of the following six strategies, the guidance provides practical resources for implementation:
- Deliver Care Outside Traditional Medical Facilities
- Partner With Non-Health Organizations
- Improve Data Systems and Data-Sharing on Housing and Homelessness
- Promote Supportive and Affordable Housing
- Engage in Homelessness Prevention
- Advance Health Equity
To inform the guidance, USICH reviewed the current literature and conducted more than a dozen interviews. USICH would like to thank our partners that provided feedback, including people who have experienced homelessness, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.